Summer Undergraduate Research (Department of Pediatrics)

University of Minnesota - Department of Pediatrics Summer Undergraduate Research Opportunity

Location: In-person, Minneapolis, Minnesota
Internship Dates: 11 Weeks; June 9 - August 22, 2025
Hours per week: 40

Paid Internship: $4,000 stipend and $1,000 for supplies 

Description
Today, more than 80 percent of children diagnosed with cancer in the United States before the age of 20 years will survive at least five years, a dramatic increase from the 1970s, when only about 50% of children diagnosed with cancer before the age of 20 years survived.  (http://seer.cancer.gov/, posted April 2014) These dramatic improvements in outcomes are only possible through scientifically sound research. Much work remains to improve survival to 100% and to find a cure for every child. 

The University of Minnesota is home to leading clinical and translational research programs focused on improving outcomes for children diagnosed with cancer and blood diseases. We support comprehensive clinical, research, and education programs with a focus on five core areas: epidemiology, leukemia, brain tumors, solid tumors (sarcomas), and childhood cancer survivorship. 

We are currently looking for exceptional undergraduate students to complete an 11-week intensive research experience designed to provide immersive research training for students interested in a career in academic research/medicine.  Each student will conduct a small, independent research project focused on a scientific question using computational biology. Over the course of the summer, students will attend weekly presentations and meetings. Students will be expected to discuss their research results informally in laboratory and group meetings. A student’s work will be directly supervised by a faculty member or a designated post-doctoral associate working in the laboratory. At the end of the summer, students will present their research to faculty from the Division of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, the Division of Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, the Division of Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy, and other selected guests.  

Students will work up to 40 hours per week; schedules and hours will be arranged with the assigned faculty mentor (or delegate). This is not a clinical shadowing opportunity. 

Research opportunities will be available with researchers within the Divisions of Pediatric Hematology/Oncology, Pediatric Epidemiology and Clinical Research, and Pediatric Blood and Marrow Transplantation & Cellular Therapy. 

Presentation: August 2025 TBD 

Qualifications 
Successful candidates will have a strong undergraduate academic record, with interests in pursuing a career in computational biology, academic medicine, and/or completing a combined MD/PhD degree program. 

The cover letter can be addressed to:

Nathasha Chandrasekahran
University of Minnesota Medical School
Department of Pediatrics
2231 6th Street SE
Minneapolis, MN 55455